Screening device for analysis of bodily fluids

Abstract

A screening device for testing saliva for the presence of certain constituents. The device has a D-shaped profile when viewed from above and includes a first wall with planar front face through which all of the test strips are viewed and a curved rear second wall. The device also includes a floor surface with an uppermost portion extending from the rear wall to a lowermost portion at the first wall such that saliva squeezed from a sampler at a location between the upper most portion and the lowermost portion flows downwardly to the test strips.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for testing an analyte in liquid sample, the device comprising:
 a cup comprising an outer planar forward wall connecting to an outer curved rearward wall providing a D-shaped outer perimeter of the device when viewed from below and above, an inclined plate traversing continuously upwardly and rearwardly between the planar forward wall and the curved rearward wall, the inclined plate defining a cavity with a lowermost extremity of the cavity positioned at the planar forward wall;   a cap portion positioned at a top portion of the cup, that having a D-shaped outer perimeter when viewed from above, the D-shaped outer perimeter providing an outer most periphery of the device when viewed from above; wherein the cap portion comprising a through passage structure comprising a hollow tube positioned below the cap portion, the hollow tube extending toward the inclined plate; and   a sampling stem having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including a sampling swab for absorbing a liquid sample, the sampling stem insertable through the cap into the hollow tube through passage structure.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , the device further comprises a planar face that extends downward from the cap portion into the cup and the planar face comprises a plurality of parallel ribs that define a plurality of elongate channels for engaging a test strip. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined plate has a lowermost portion of the plate proximate the planar front wall and an upper most portion of the inclined plate at the rearward wall. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the test strip holder has a wall extending downwardly from the cap portion that conforms to and follows the D-shaped outer perimeter of the device and extends toward the inclined plate, the wall having a planar face positioned at the planar forward wall. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling stem further comprises a female threaded portion to cooperate with a male threaded portion on the cap portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the sampling stem and the cap portion have a ratchet and pawl mechanism for locking the sampling stem on the cap portion. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined plate has a pedestal portion and the upwardly facing surface is on the pedestal portion. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein planar face including a plurality of riblets, said plurality of riblets defining a plurality of channel extensions on said inner face of said planar face for receiving the test strips. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined plate has a substantially planar upwardly facing surface extending from the rearward wall to the lowermost portion. 
     
     
         10 . A device for testing an analyte in liquid sample, the device comprising:
 a cup comprising a planar forward wall connecting to a curved rearward wall defining a D-shaped outer wall perimeter when viewed from above and below;   a cap portion positioned at the opening of the cup, the cap portion having through passage structure comprising a hollow tube, the hollow tube extending toward the inclined plate; and   a planar face of a holder positioned in the cavity adjacent the planar forward wall of said cup, a plurality of test strips positioned between the planar face and the planar forward wall;   wherein the cap portion is positioned at a top portion of the cup, the cap portion has a D-shaped outer perimeter when viewed from above, and the D-shaped outer perimeter provides an outer most periphery of the device when viewed from above.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises a sampling stem having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including a sampling swab for absorbing a liquid sample. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sampling stem and the cap portion have a ratchet and pawl mechanism for locking the sampling stem on the cap portion. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the inclined plate has a pedestal portion for contacting the sampling swab. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a three dimension gasket within said cavity of said cup between said holder and the inclined plate. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the planar face includes a plurality of riblets, said plurality of riblets defining a plurality of channel extensions on said inner face of said planar face for receiving a test strip. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the cup has a lower edge that registers the device in an upright position. 
     
     
         17 . A device for testing an analyte in a liquid sample, the device comprising:
 a cup comprising a planar forward wall connecting to a curved rearward wall defining a D-shaped opening and a D-shaped outer perimeter at a top of the cup when viewed from above and below;   a plurality of test strips positioned at the forward wall and each of the plurality of test strips extending to the single lowermost extremity of the cavity, all test strips of the device positioned at the planar forward wall;   a D-shaped cap portion positioned at the opening of the cup, the cap portion having through passage structure comprising a hollow tube, the D-shaped cap portion welded or glued to the cup for sealing the D-shaped opening of the cup.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , the device further comprises a sampling stem having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including a sampling swab for absorbing a liquids sample, the sampling stem insertable into the through passage structure and being attachable to the cap portion, the device having an upwardly facing surface for compressing saliva out of the sampling swab. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the cup has a thinned region for puncturing with a syringe, the thinned region positioned proximate the containment bottom. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the sampling stem further comprises a female threaded portion to cooperate with a male threaded portion on the cap portion. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the forward wall has a side to side width that defines a maximum side to side width of the cup.